ROBERT MONTGOMERY PRESENTS: "The Deep Six" 1953
This is an episode of the long running American anthology television series, ROBERT MONTGOMERY PRESENTS. This early, mostly live series ran between 1950 and 1957. A total of 318 episodes were produced during that time. Many of Hollywood's leading stars as well as up and comers had guest roles on the series. These include, June Lockhart, Cliff Robertson, Lee Remick, Leslie Neilson, Jane Wyatt, Raymond Massey, Zachary Scott, June Havoc, John Payne, Charlton Heston, Robert Preston, Robert Cummings, Angela Lansbury and so on.
"There are three types of men, those alive, those dead, and those at sea"
Five years before Alan Ladd's big screen version of Martin Dibner's novel hit the cinemas, there was this live episode starring, John Payne. The story is about a group of men and officers aboard the USS ATLANTIS. The ship is an old cruiser that has seen better days. The ship is at the end of a long tour in the Aleutian Islands.
The entire crew is getting frazzled around the edges from the long sea duty. Payne has had to break up several fights among the enlisted personal. The ship's executive officer and the chief gunnery officer have both taken a dislike to Payne. The first is always complaining to the Captain about Payne's un-seaman like ways. The gunnery officer is just plain nuts.
The only person that seems to like Payne is a chief petty officer. The man wants Payne to paint his picture so he can send it to his young daughter back in Brooklyn. Payne was an artist back in his pre-war days. Matters come to a head when the ATLANTIS and several escorting destroyers have a run in with a group of Japanese ships. The ATLANTIS is shot to pieces but survives when the Japanese withdraw. Payne distinguishes himself during the action. Most of the other officers, including the executive and gunnery officers are killed in the battle.
I have seen quite a few of these old episodes and they are always a hit or miss deal. This one is a definite miss. The story has little to do with the source material. (I have read the book, as well as seen the 1958 film) The sets are terrible and if it was not for the bit of combat footage inserted here and there, one would never guess they were at sea. One needs to be forgiving with gaffs, missed lines etc on these live productions, but this one just does not work.
Besides Payne, the cast includes, Scott Forbes, Herbert Rudley, Stephen Courtleigh, Ray Bramley and Donald McKee. Rudley is good here as the gunnery officer slowly going nuts.
This is an episode of the long running American anthology television series, ROBERT MONTGOMERY PRESENTS. This early, mostly live series ran between 1950 and 1957. A total of 318 episodes were produced during that time. Many of Hollywood's leading stars as well as up and comers had guest roles on the series. These include, June Lockhart, Cliff Robertson, Lee Remick, Leslie Neilson, Jane Wyatt, Raymond Massey, Zachary Scott, June Havoc, John Payne, Charlton Heston, Robert Preston, Robert Cummings, Angela Lansbury and so on.
"There are three types of men, those alive, those dead, and those at sea"
Five years before Alan Ladd's big screen version of Martin Dibner's novel hit the cinemas, there was this live episode starring, John Payne. The story is about a group of men and officers aboard the USS ATLANTIS. The ship is an old cruiser that has seen better days. The ship is at the end of a long tour in the Aleutian Islands.
The entire crew is getting frazzled around the edges from the long sea duty. Payne has had to break up several fights among the enlisted personal. The ship's executive officer and the chief gunnery officer have both taken a dislike to Payne. The first is always complaining to the Captain about Payne's un-seaman like ways. The gunnery officer is just plain nuts.
The only person that seems to like Payne is a chief petty officer. The man wants Payne to paint his picture so he can send it to his young daughter back in Brooklyn. Payne was an artist back in his pre-war days. Matters come to a head when the ATLANTIS and several escorting destroyers have a run in with a group of Japanese ships. The ATLANTIS is shot to pieces but survives when the Japanese withdraw. Payne distinguishes himself during the action. Most of the other officers, including the executive and gunnery officers are killed in the battle.
I have seen quite a few of these old episodes and they are always a hit or miss deal. This one is a definite miss. The story has little to do with the source material. (I have read the book, as well as seen the 1958 film) The sets are terrible and if it was not for the bit of combat footage inserted here and there, one would never guess they were at sea. One needs to be forgiving with gaffs, missed lines etc on these live productions, but this one just does not work.
Besides Payne, the cast includes, Scott Forbes, Herbert Rudley, Stephen Courtleigh, Ray Bramley and Donald McKee. Rudley is good here as the gunnery officer slowly going nuts.